Franconian Beer Message Board

Forchheim Update 4

Posted by barry on 2012-09-09 00:06:53

Sunday morning: preparing for trip to Rossdorf and Greisfeld, using bus 977. Connections are a bit tight going and hope that train from the south is not late. Considering general efficiency of DB, the situation on the Nurnburg/Erlangen stretch is a bit of mess. Coming back from Spielbach, we had to take a bus from Fuerth to Forchheim: there were no directions where to take the bus from, which left us chasing around the station, and it took nearly an hour for this part of a journey that, by train, takes about 20/30 minutes. Anyway moan over! I mentioned Spielbach; this was the highpoint of a trip with Juergen around the southwest. First, we visited Jochsberg and Brauerei Reindler, where we met Nick on his redoubtable bike. This was really arranged as a treat for Nick, as the beer is one of the hoppier in the area. Sampled both the Hell and the Dunkel and, yes, they were both pleasantly hopped and a little different from the fare around Forchheim. Nick must have been happy as we left him sampling the range of products while we set of for Brauerei Hoehenberger in Fuernheim. Juergen had explained that this village had been the homeplace of the owner of Erdinger, who had renovated the brewery at some expense - and it showed. Very interesting in that the brewing takes place inside the pub and you can see most of the equipment on the way to the toilets! Quite a smart place but the food was excellent and the beer pretty good, especially as it was unfiltered. We had both the Gold, an excellent hell, and the Kupfer (copper), which was hard to precisely describe but I suppose halfway between a Dunkel and a red beer? And then it was on to the Gold-Ochsenbrauerei in Spielbach. This is a Franken brewery that means the map of Franken breweries should be redrawn as it is in Baden-Wurtenberg and doesn't appear in the books and maps. But what a great place, just as it must have been in the 1950's (1850's)), like sitting in somebody's front room, with proceedings overseen by the 80+ lady owner. Lovely beer - I posited a sort of pils but Juergen said that it was a 'Special'. The bottles (procured only after long negotiation by Juergen) call it a 'Special Hell' at 5%. Whatever, it is a beautifully balanced yellow/golden colour, filtered but really characterful. This visit is almost certainly going to be the highlight of this holiday and highly recommended - but don't ask me how you might get there! More later.

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-09 01:22:31

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-09 03:18:23

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-09 07:23:41

Forchheim Update 4 by DonS on 2012-09-09 15:00:47

Forchheim Update 4 by barry on 2012-09-10 00:35:34

Forchheim Update 4 by Jürgen Wening on 2012-09-10 00:55:56

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-10 02:01:01

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-10 02:02:37

Forchheim Update 4 by Jürgen Wening on 2012-09-10 03:04:11

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-10 03:26:23

Forchheim Update 4 by Mike B. on 2012-09-10 03:51:28

Forchheim Update 4 by barry on 2012-09-10 04:50:33

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-10 04:33:41

Forchheim Update 4 by Jürgen Wening on 2012-09-10 05:28:40

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-10 10:23:31

Hirschaid by Uncle Jimbo on 2012-09-10 11:23:01

Forchheim Update 4 by barry on 2012-09-10 11:28:44

Old Ladies by Uncle Jimbo on 2012-09-10 11:27:58

Old Ladies by barry on 2012-09-10 11:32:36

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-11 00:00:38

Forchheim Update 4 by Nick B. on 2012-09-11 00:19:04